...Technology and Social Change TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL CHANGE Introduction Social change is any change that occurs in nature, social institutions, behavior and relations of people (Mutekwe, 2012). Social change is also change in the organization of the society and particularly in the practices and beliefs of people. All societies go through change, whether significant or subtle. For example, public opinion on abortion, smoking, divorce and homosexuality have changed in the last fifty years. Macro scale changes affect primary social institutions like family, politics and religion. Micro-scale changes, on the other hand, shape people’s attitudes, values, and beliefs. Sources of change include the media, environmental pressures, dramatic events and technological innovations. Technology, on the other hand, is an object, a method, or an invention that alters the social environment of people and extends their natural abilities (Rosa, Yee, Sweeney, & Dator, 2013). Technology and social change are inseparable. As mentioned above, technology is one of the major factors that create changes in the society. Technology improves on some aspects of human qualities. Hence, a significant tool for social change. For example, the wheel enables human beings to go to places where their feet would never reach. Positive impact of technology on society Technology has resulted in many positive impacts on the society. Computers, for example, have brought enormous changes in medicine, the workplace...
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...Technology and Social Change SOC 100 One of our best well-known scientists, Albert Einstein, quoted “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology have exceeded our humanity” that was credited in a 1995 movie called “Powder”. It is no secret that the advancement of technology is drastically increasing in a rate where it is almost impossible to keep up with. Many individuals believe that it is slowly taking our attention away to what is really valuable in our lives, while others strongly considering that it will bring us together and provide cost-effective solutions to our everyday life and industry field. Social change refers to a modification or adjustment in the social order of the society (Schaeffer 2015, p.392). This can be influenced by any traumatic event that took place, culture of the society and even the geographical location. Technology alone does not cause social change, but it is highly characterized related in different aspect of society across the world. It is inevitable to escape from social change because the society is continuously advancing in order to extend human capabilities by the use of different tools, equipment, and innovative software. The Pace of Technology, magazine article by Ron Johnston, states “Much of innovation is stimulated by the identification of new needs, which drives a search for new or existing technologies that can be adapted to meet that need.” Computer technology became one of the top essential needs following the cellular...
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...Technology and Social Change Technology is defined as the use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems (Technology, 2016). Social change happens when there is a change in society. It seems that there everyone including small children have either a computer or a cell phone and access to the internet. The advancements in technology have paved the way to social changes throughout the United States. Where would we be without cell phones, internet, the automobile, or electricity? Social changes happened with the implementation of this technology advancements. In the last 20 years there have been many technological changes. Personal computers are faster and more compact. Cell phones give their user Internet access just about anywhere you can access the cellular network. As a nation we have become almost chained to our cell phones and computers. A relatively new form of social media, crowdsourcing is when a services are needed and the ideas or information is spread to a large group of people. For instance, Kickstarter is a web-based company that helps to raise large amounts of money in a short period of time. Another use of the Internet and crowdsourcing happened in January 2010 when an earthquake devastated Haiti. Relief groups were able to take advantage of crowdsourcing efforts to get the medical aid, food, shelter, and rescue help that was needed (Introduction to Sociology, 2015, p. 493). Without the advancements that have been...
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...Technology and Social Change Veronica Garcia February 22,2016 SOC/100 Lynn Ma Technology and Social Change Technology is the scientific knowledge of making tools in order t solve problems that are very specific. Automobiles, airplanes, cell phones, computers and the radio are examples of technological advances. These advancements have helped revolutionize the way people interact, meet, and conduct business. The increase of technology provides an influx of storage and retrieval, and in return it opens up the channels for knowledge and information. This then leads to better technological advances. All these changes then create concern as to how society will learn to deal with the advancements in technology. Computer technology allows the offices to connect electronically via a phone, a computer and a fax machine. The internet is what allows millions of people to interact and socialize with each other. Technology has also had many breakthroughs in medicine. Although many breakthroughs are considered controversial, most breakthroughs have helped more in medicine than hurt any. Technology has been applied in the advancement of sex preselection, surrogate parenthood, and genetic engineering. These advancements have raised concern in politics, it has questioned the ethical value of such technology and has questioned the morality of these breakthroughs. The impact that technology has had on society is overwhelming. The use of a cell phone, a personal computer...
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...Technology and Social Change Tina Medina SOC/100 May 2, 2016 Andrea Harris Technology and Social Change This essay is about technology and social change, which are two things that have a huge impact in our world today. Ramey (2013), "Technology is a body of knowledge devoted to creating tools, processing actions and extracting of materials. We use technology to accomplish various tasks in our daily lives, in brief; we can describe technology as products, processes or organizations.” (para. 1). According to "Social Change Defined" (n.d.), "Social change refers to any significant alteration over time in behavior patterns and cultural values and norms.” (para. 1). Now that we have the definitions of technology and social change it is easy to see how they are related. No matter where or what you are going in your life it has been impacted my technology some way and have socially changed how we accomplish things in our everyday life. Some examples; checking out at the store can now be done through a self-checkout lane, you no longer need a map to travel with GPS available in your car, and people can work from home because of computers and advanced technology. All of these technology changes have made people learn new ways to complete tasks throughout their day and social change has occurred. Impact of Technology in Society Computers, cell phone, and the Internet have changed are lives drastically and is a part of everyone’s life in one form or another. Communication across...
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...Technology and Social Change Page 1 Leslie Chappell SOC/100 University of Phoenix 03/28/2016 Technology and Social Change Page 2 Americans are faced with increasing change of technology in everyday life. Most of the time, the change happens, and we don't realize how it affects our lives. I remember talking to my grandparents about their younger years; it made me realize how technology changes from generation to generation. Technology is scientific knowledge and the making of tools to solve problems. The technological advances are vehicles, airplanes, radio, TV, cell phones, and computers. The 20th century has changed how people meet, interact, learn, work, and do business. This type of knowledge doubles every several years. Sociologists are concerned how these technological societies will adapt to the social changes that technology continues to bring. Social change is alteration over time in behavior patterns and cultural values. Sociologists acknowledge the role that social movements play in members to bring about social change. There are ways to understand the nature of long-term social change; it includes looking for patterns and causes which led sociologists to understand the evolutionary, functionalist, and conflict theories of change. According to The Pew Internet and American Life Project, 45% of American adults own a smartphone which is a 10% increase since May 2011. But smartphones are more popular with the young adults and...
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...Technology and Social Change SOC/100 Rachel Winningham 02/22/2016 Technology has been developing since the early 1980’s, however, home computers were unheard of then. By the early 1990’s everyone had at least one home computer, laptops were in their infancy. Along with technology social media started about the same time in the 1990’s, and has flourished into the 21st century of what we are today with Facebook, Twitter, and Insta-grams. Between technology and social media, we have quite the socialization all over the world. In some instances this could not be a good thing they way technology has advanced, although so have the criminals with their hacking, lying, and deceit on the social media sites. All of this was made for people to meet people, get in touch with people you have lost touch with over the years, and reconnecting with family. The way computers have become so much a way of life for people along with cell phones, and the internet. Most people can’t function without their laptops, and cell phones, including tablets, during a day. In fact I have seen some young people become irate, due to not being able to reach anybody without their internet use, or non-functioning computer, laptop, or cell phone. So with these necessities, or so younger people feel that it is a big issue if they can’t post on Facebook, or reach someone through the internet. I personally like to become unplugged on the weekends. I get outside and feel much better for...
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...Technology and Social Change in Healthcare Today there are many technologies that have provided change in our social environments. For example, we have access to laptop/computers, the Internet, cell phones, and android pads. This is beneficial because we can use the Internet to obtain information almost instantly to assist in research and education as well as staying in communication with friends and family. I believe that every household should have access to these technologies but due to socioeconomic conditions that is not possible. I feel that the technology today has evolved from landline telephones and going to the library to being able to make calls anytime from anywhere and find information at the touch of our fingertips. The gap between social economic backgrounds needs to be closed so that everyone has the access to all technology. Influence of Technology on Social Change The Business Dictionary defines technology as “the purposeful application of information in the design, production, and utilization of goods and services, and in the organization of human activities.” In addition, they further breakdown the definition of technology into five categories “Tangible, Intangible, High, Intermediate, and Low.” Our life modes have been greatly changed over the years. A few examples include but not limited to education, government, healthcare and new communication inventions. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines Social Change “in sociology, the alteration of mechanisms...
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...Technology and Social Change Steven D. Smith SOC\100 March 28, 2016 Dr. Shayne Aloe Technology and Social Change Technology plays in iatrical role in society. Technology has a big influence and the advancements in technology can cause social change. Even though we create advancements in technology, even the society that makes those changes is impacted as well. This paper will address the impact of personal computers, cell phones, and the Internet on society. This paper will also review technological developments that relate to the three major sociological perspectives such as; equilibrium model, digital divide, and cultural lag. The use of computers has increased dramatically over the years, and the use of computers has changed the lives of many people and how they do things. Computers are a very complex tool, but they are also very useful. Computers can be used for many different functions such as; keeping in touch with distant relatives and friends, research, conducting business, doing homework, or for entertainment. Computers are a very useful piece of technology that most people have and use at home or work. Being on the computer can take away from being productive and cause procrastination for most. Everton, Jolton, and Mastrangelo (2006) state, “Computers have undoubtedly changed the way people work, but they have also changed the way people avoid and sabotage work” (p. 730). The Internet ties personal computer and smartphones together which has affected current...
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...As we all know technology has led the world to many changes. There are four types of technology in particular which led to four social revolutions. These four technologies are: * Animal Domestication and Plant Cultivation * The invention of the “Plow” * The invention of the “Steam Engine” * The invention of the “Microchip” These technologies not only caused changes in society but they also caused several consequences within society. The first technology is Animal Domestication and Plant Cultivation and some of the consequences which led to the first social revolution are as follows. Animal Domestication and Plant Cultivation allowed the supply of food to become more dependable triggering groups to grow larger. As groups became larger a Division of Labor was created because it was no longer necessary for people to work to provide food. Therefore, the business of trade was initiated, due to everyone having a surplus of objects. Afterwards, social inequality began to take place because everyone began to trade and groups began accumulating even more objects. I can imagine that this must have created some form of jealousy within the groups causing feuds and war with one another. As some people accumulated more and more objects, the wealthier and more powerful they became. All the power and wealth which was obtained was then passed down, allowing their descendant’s to inherit all the wealth, which in turn gave then power. The second social revolution was caused by the invention...
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...From Technology and Social Change, 1987, edited by H. Russell Bernard and Pertti J. Pelto. 2nd ed.Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press. Pp. 359–368. TECHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY Conclusion H. Russell Bernard and Pertti J. Pelto In putting together this collection of papers we have become aware of two things. First, each of the cases is historically unique and interesting – they can all stand on their own without need for further interpretation. Second, these cases contain important clues and guidelines which point to a more general theory of technology and sociocultural change. They do not go far enough to allow us to frame up such a theory, but they provide the inductive impetus for relating these examples to the wider system of theory building in anthropology. In the first edition of this book we were not yet ready to elaborate even the outlines of such a theory, but the ensuing 15 years have given us plenty of new materials, as well as general growth in various aspects of theoretical social science. We can now offer a theoretical synthesis, and show how this synthesis can lead directly to the testing of specific hypotheses. That technology is a key element in all human affairs, and especially in sociocultural change, has long been central to anthropological thinking (Barnett, 1953; Foster, 1973; Steward, 1956; White, 1959). Yet, after several collections of case materials on social change (Spicer, 1952; Paul, 1955; Niehoff, 1966; and the...
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...to 1,400-word essay on technology and social change, covering the following: Provide an introduction that defines both technology and social change and discusses how they are related. Discuss the impact of the personal computer, cellular phones, and the internet on society. Using the three major sociological perspectives, describe the equilibrium model, the digital divide and cultural lag in relation to these technologies and social change. Include how technology has influenced social epidemiology, health and the environment. Explore a recent or emerging form of technology and discuss its potential benefits or consequences for society. Provide a conclusion that summarizes key points. Cite at least three academic, peer-reviewed sources and two popular magazines. Format the paper consistent with APA guidelines. Submit your assignment to the Assignments tab.Write an 1,050- to 1,400-word essay on technology and social change, covering the following: Provide an introduction that defines both technology and social change and discusses how they are related. Discuss the impact of the personal computer, cellular phones, and the internet on society. Using the three major sociological perspectives, describe the equilibrium model, the digital divide and cultural lag in relation to these technologies and social change. Include how technology has influenced social epidemiology, health and the environment. Explore a recent or emerging form of technology and discuss its potential...
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...Introduction The social issue that this group has decided to cover is the topic of technological change and the struggles that people have adapting to it. Throughout this paper we will cover many different aspects of technological change. It is true that technology is rapidly changing, everyday there are advancements in different aspects of technology that not only make peoples life easier but also make it harder because we have to learn how to use it. This not only creates many different all new jobs, but it also costs people jobs because their past positions can be replaced with a more efficient one. Throughout the years there have been advancements of the internet through social networking sites such as Facebook that make it easier for families and friends that do not live close to each other to stay in touch. Other tools such as Skype offer the opportunity to video chat, this way businesses and families can see each other while they are away, or have meetings remotely. There are many social challenges that are faced in the topic of social networks. One such instance is the same challenge that was faced in the world of online chat. Through only being able to view what the person is typing and not facial expressions or body language, it can cause some confusion and people take things out of context. This paper will outline many other challenges that are faced with adapting to other parts of technology. Global Social Issue In a world where technology is perpetually changing...
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...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15435768 Abstract People often comment on the impact that technology has on people's social skills. Frequently, this lens is used to analyze the limits of social media . However, this paper moves away from simple social skills in seeks out the effects that social media has in generating a greater kind of change, social change. This paper analyzes the impact that social media can have on revolutions in the twenty-first century. I use the Arab Spring as a means to point out the strengths and weakness that social media forums can have on a revolution. Primarily looking at Twitter and the role that Tweets played during the Arab Spring, I outline the role that Social media can play in times of uprising. Like most things, moderation is key. While social media offers many benefits, in excess, it can generate chaos and present an apparent lack of directions. This ultimately raises the question of how will changes in technology change us and how we change humanity. Nathan Willis William Penman Interpretation and Argument December 2, 2013 Not Following the Leader: How Social Media Impacted the Arab Spring Introduction As long as there have been established governments, there have been revolutions to test them. In times past, these revolutions frequently came from people discussing their dissatisfaction with other members of their towns. The advent of the telegram allowed people to overcome the barrier that distance created. Yet, two major...
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...Intro to Sociology Article Assignment 2 This article is nearly impossible to read without looking at things through the sociological perspective. Social patterns are changing rapidly and in this article, it is technology that is the main driving factor. A New York based company named “Genepeeks” will begin offering DNA screening for sperm donors before inducing a pregnancy. The screening would match the DNA of the potential father and mother together to see how the two combine. With the results of the screening, scientists can then look for DNA matches with a higher risk of rare recessive paediatric conditions. This new process goes a step further than current services that are already provided. Current services simply screen one or both parents’ genes to see if they would be considered a carrier for disease when combined with similar variants. Genepeeks advances this technology by computer simulating 10,000 hypothetical children and looking for actual disease rather than just carrier status. Anne Morris is a co-founder of Genepeeks. Anne was motivated to find this company because she gave birth to a child via sperm donation and her child inherited a disorder called MCAAD. Her child is still able is able to lead a normal life but she realizes that about 30% of children with rare genetic diseases don’t make it past age 5. Questions of ethics began to arise right away but she assured that the screening was simply for genetic diseases and not for outward appearance of the...
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